Beer Makes The Bear Necessities...

Bears plundering campers' food is a recognised hazard in North America where hikers use bear barrels or hang their grub in trees to avoid the attentions of ursine nocturnal snack merchants, less common though is a bear with a discriminating taste for beer...

That's what campground workers reportedly discovered when they came across a black bear with a proverbial sore head sleeping off the effects of around 36 cans of beer at a resort north of Seattle.

Apparenlty the bear tried a single can of mass-market Busch beer before rejecting it and starting on the more appetising local brand 'Rainier'. The hungover beast wandered off but returned next day when he was trapped and captured with the aid of dough-nuts, honey and, rather unsportingly, a couple of cans of his favourite brew.

Rumours that the whole episode was inspired by George the Bear, hero of Hofmeister lager are as yet unsubstantiated as are those linking TGO's PCT-walking John Manning with the incident. He drinks bitter tha knows...

You can find the full, moving saga on the BBC news website.